Lido di Camaiore with kids: the beach, playgrounds, the cycle path and day trips in Versilia

Choosing where to spend a family holiday with kids is never easy. It means picking the place where your children’s memories will take shape, and that deserves a little time. Games on the beach with friends met by chance, the first attempts at swimming, evenings at the merry-go-round: these are unique moments that become a treasure to carry for a lifetime.

To be truly child-friendly, a seaside town has to meet two basic needs: the parents’ need for safety and the children’s wish to have fun. In Lido di Camaiore everything helps: the sandy seabed that slopes gently, beach clubs with play areas and entertainment, wide pedestrian areas and the cycle path along the seafront, playgrounds and summer events for families. In this guide you will find the tips we at Hotel La Vela give every day to guests travelling with children, with distances and practical information checked.

Why Lido di Camaiore is ideal for a holiday with children

The beach at Lido di Camaiore is a stretch of fine sand about 4 kilometres long, with the gently sloping seabed typical of Versilia: near the shore the water stays shallow and little ones can play under the eyes of their parents and the lifeguards. In 2026 the coast was again awarded the Blue Flag, the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) award that looks, among other criteria, at bathing water quality and lifeguard services.

Almost every beach club has a play area and some offer entertainment and kids’ clubs: children have fun with new friends while you relax under the umbrella. Behind the beach runs the seafront, with the pedestrian promenade and the cycle path: wide spaces where you can move around at ease, even with a pushchair.

The beach one minute from Hotel La Vela

Whether you are the parents of a newborn or of a teenager, at Hotel La Vela you will find a family-run hotel with family rooms and a very handy location: we are on the seafront, one minute on foot from the beach and the Bellavista Vittoria pier. A huge advantage when you have to carry bags, inflatables, buckets and beach toys, or when you want to go back to the room at midday for the little ones’ nap.

Thanks to the agreement the hotel has with a few partner beach clubs, you can book an umbrella and sunloungers at reduced rates. If you are not sure which one to choose, just ask us: we will point you to the beach club that best suits your family.

Parco Pitagora, the playground park of Lido di Camaiore

Away from the beach, the magic of Lido di Camaiore goes on in places made for pure fun. The first is Parco Pitagora, just over a kilometre from the hotel: an ideal distance to turn the trip into a walk or a bike ride. Set in greenery, open all year round and with free entry, it is designed for children of all ages, with attractions for each of them: bouncy castles, trampolines, a ball pit, a little train, a caterpillar ride, a giant slide, a pirates’ den, a mini car track and water bumper boats.

For the youngest there are a 0-3 area and a well-equipped baby point, while older children will find basketball and five-a-side football courts, ping-pong tables and a skating rink. Rides and attractions are paid with “pitagorini”, the park’s tokens. In summer the evenings come alive with entertainment, puppet shows and the famous foam party, and from the benches in the shade parents can keep an eye on the children while they play. There is also a café with snacks.

Good to know: the park is at via Pitagora 1. In summer it is open from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 4 pm to midnight, with a break in the hottest hours; from September it closes at 8 pm. From October the Palapitagora, which is the skating rink in spring and summer, becomes a covered play area (8 euros for the whole day, parents and grandparents free). Opening times change with the seasons: check them on the Parco Pitagora website and remember socks for the play areas.

Parco Bussoladomani and the Bicinema, cinema under the stars

High on the list of places not to miss is Parco Bussoladomani, a huge green oasis of about 75,000 square metres on viale Kennedy, a short walk from the seafront and about two kilometres from the hotel. It is so big you would never expect to find it in town: an urban park where children can run freely on the lawns, start a football match or play tag, while parents switch off and enjoy a moment of rest.

The name has a story: this is where Sergio Bernardini’s legendary Bussola Domani tent stood, whose stage hosted artists such as Miles Davis and Frank Zappa and where, in 1978, Mina gave her last live concerts. Recovered by the Municipality of Camaiore and given back to the town as an urban park in 2017, the area now has an arena for concerts and events.

In summer the families’ favourite is the Bicinema, the open-air cinema that invites you to arrive by bike: there is a dedicated bike park and a food stand, and you watch the film comfortably sitting or lying on the lawn. The programme mixes different genres and includes many animated and family films: in 2026, for example, the Super Mario Galaxy movie, SpongeBob’s new pirate adventure and Toy Story 5 (screened in Italian). Check the calendar to choose the evenings that suit your children best.

Good to know: in 2026 the Bicinema ran from 10 July to 31 August, with screenings at 9.30 pm and tickets at 6 euros, at the box office or online in advance. Bring a blanket or a cushion to be comfortable on the lawn, although some seats are available.

By bike on the seafront cycle path

To combine fun and exercise, the best way is to get on a bike; if you don’t have one, renting one in Lido di Camaiore is very easy. The route we recommend to families is the seafront cycle path, the Lido stretch of the route that links Viareggio to Forte dei Marmi: it runs parallel to the coast, it is entirely flat and almost always on a protected lane (in a few places you share the space with pedestrians), and every day families and groups of cyclists ride it in peace. Heading south you reach Viareggio in about a quarter of an hour; heading north you reach Marina di Pietrasanta in about twenty minutes and Forte dei Marmi in about three quarters of an hour (with children, allow a few minutes more).

With kids it is best to set off early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the sun is less strong, and always carry water and a hat.

Viareggio and the Cittadella del Carnevale

Cycling south, on the northern edge of Viareggio, about a quarter of an hour by bike from the hotel, you will find the Cittadella del Carnevale. Opened in 2001, it is the home of the famous Viareggio Carnival: around a large elliptical square dedicated to Burlamacco, the town’s symbolic mask, stand sixteen hangar-workshops where papier-mâché masters build the allegorical floats, with figures that can be more than twenty metres tall.

In the Carnival Museum children discover the history of the event through original sketches, posters and period documents, while in the Espace Gilbert, set up in Hangar 16, they can see up close giant figures and masks from past editions: once simple sheets of paper and glue, then turned into giants that move thanks to surprising mechanisms. The museum also runs papier-mâché workshops and creative workshops for children (usually aged 5 to 12, with an adult and on booking), where kids learn to shape their own mask.

Good to know: the Cittadella is at via Santa Maria Goretti 5. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; from September to May it opens in the afternoon (3 to 7 pm), while from June to August it opens in the morning (9 am to 1 pm); on Saturdays it is open both morning and afternoon. The ticket, which also covers the Espace Gilbert, costs 5 euros (3 reduced) and is free for children under 11 with an adult. Opening times, guided tours and workshops change during the year: check them on the Viareggio Carnival website before your visit.

Parco della Versiliana and La Versiliana dei Piccoli

Taking the cycle path north, in Marina di Pietrasanta you enter the magical atmosphere of Parco della Versiliana, a must for young and old. It is an ancient pinewood of about 80 hectares, with holm oaks, stone and maritime pines, old dunes and small ponds, crossed by paths for walkers and cyclists that are perfect for a family stroll. Sharp-eyed children may spot the hoopoe, the moorhen and the turtles that live along the streams. The nineteenth-century villa that gives the park its name hosted Gabriele D’Annunzio, and tradition links this pinewood to La pioggia nel pineto (The Rain in the Pinewood): the perfect chance to tell children about one of the most famous poems in Italian literature.

In summer La Versiliana dei Piccoli comes to life, the children’s and family programme of the La Versiliana Festival: theatre, music and magic shows at the Arena dei Piccoli and creative workshops in the children’s area, in the shade of the pines. In 2026 the shows were held every Wednesday at 6.30 pm, from 8 July to 26 August, each preceded by a workshop at 5.30 pm; tickets cost 10 euros (7.50 reduced).

Good to know: the park is on viale Morin, in Marina di Pietrasanta, about 7 km from the hotel (around half an hour by bike along the cycle path). Programme and tickets on the La Versiliana Festival website.

Day trip: the Pinocchio Park in Collodi

For a little adventure further afield, about 50 minutes’ drive from the hotel lies Collodi, the village where Carlo Lorenzini spent his childhood and from which he took his pen name. Here you will find the Pinocchio Park, dedicated to the naughtiest puppet in history: opened in 1956, it is an old-fashioned fairy-tale trail between art and nature, with statues of the characters set among the trees. You will meet Pinocchio e la Fata by Emilio Greco, the Piazzetta dei Mosaici by Venturino Venturi, the sly Cat and Fox, the Carabiniere and the Great Shark, which sprays water at regular intervals and whose mouth you can walk into.

The visit is completed by the puppet show, vintage merry-go-rounds, the maze and two adventure trails with rope bridges and hanging walkways, for children aged 5 and over and between 100 and 150 cm tall (a release form signed by a parent is required). The little ones will be wide-eyed with wonder, and grown-ups will feel like children again for a day. 2026 is also a special year: it marks 200 years since the birth of Carlo Lorenzini, and the park, now 70 years old, reopened on 29 March after a major makeover.

Good to know: from Lido di Camaiore take the A12 motorway, the link road towards Lucca and then the A11 towards Florence as far as the Chiesina Uzzanese exit; continue towards Pescia and follow the signs for Collodi (about 56 km). In 2026 the park is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm and until 7 pm at weekends and on public holidays, until 1 November; it is closed on Mondays. Next to it you can also visit the historic Garzoni Garden and the Butterfly House. Up-to-date opening times and prices on the Pinocchio Park website.

Where to stay in Lido di Camaiore with kids: Hotel La Vela

After a day so full of adventure, you come back tired but happy, wishing for a welcoming place that feels just like home. Hotel La Vela is a family-run 3-star hotel on the seafront of Lido di Camaiore, one minute on foot from the beach. Our family room, on the top floor, offers about 30 square metres, well laid out: two connecting rooms with a bathroom, up to 4 beds and, on request, a travel cot for the youngest. For smaller families there are also triple rooms. All our rooms have a balcony, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, and every morning a sweet and savoury buffet breakfast awaits you.

With a genuine welcome and plenty of tips for your days in Versilia, we will make your memories even more precious. Check availability for your dates or write to us: we reply personally. And to discover everything else about the Lido, read our guide on what to see and do in Lido di Camaiore.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Lido di Camaiore with kids?

June and the first half of September are ideal if you want quieter beaches and milder temperatures. July and August are the months of family events, such as the Bicinema at Parco Bussoladomani and La Versiliana dei Piccoli. Hotel La Vela is open from Easter to October.

How much does Parco Pitagora cost?

Entry is free: you only pay for rides and attractions, with “pitagorini”, tokens you buy at the park (1.50 euros each according to the park’s website). The Palapitagora, the covered play area open from October, costs 8 euros for the whole day.

What can you do with kids in Lido di Camaiore when it rains?

The Carnival Museum, at the Cittadella in Viareggio, is open all year round (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; mornings only in summer) and runs papier-mâché workshops for children on booking. In October the Palapitagora, a covered play area, opens at Parco Pitagora.

How far is Collodi from Lido di Camaiore?

About 56 km, that is 50-60 minutes’ drive without traffic: take the A12, the link road towards Lucca and the A11 towards Florence as far as the Chiesina Uzzanese exit, then continue to Pescia and Collodi.

Does Hotel La Vela have family rooms for guests with children?

Yes. The family room, on the top floor, has two connecting rooms with a bathroom, up to 4 beds and a cot on request; there are also triple rooms. The hotel also has an agreement with a few beach clubs for umbrellas and sunloungers at reduced rates.

Distances and times are approximate and calculated from Hotel La Vela (viale E. Pistelli 45) in normal traffic; event dates, times and prices are those announced by the organisers for 2026 and may change.

Photo credits: the photos of the Lido di Camaiore seafront (Peter Tritthart, CC BY 3.0), the Carnival Museum (Cristina Maioglio), Parco della Versiliana (Viola Degl’Innocenti) and the Pinocchio Park (Mongolo1984, all three CC BY-SA 4.0) come from Wikimedia Commons and have been resized. All other photos are by Hotel La Vela.